System and method for high flow rate liquid hydrogen tank filling

A liquid hydrogen filling system, comprising:

• a holding tank configured to store liquid hydrogen at a pressure that is less than or equal to 2.0 bar(a);
• a first cryogenic pump configured to receive a stream of liquid hydrogen from the holding tank and pressurize the stream of liquid hydrogen to form an intermediate pressurized liquid hydrogen stream at a pressure greater than about 2.0 bar(a);
• a heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first cryogenic pump and configured to warm the intermediate pressurized liquid hydrogen stream to a temperature between 26 Kelvin and 30 Kelvin via indirect heat exchange with a recycled gaseous hydrogen stream;
• a second cryogenic pump disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and configured to further pressurize the warmed intermediate pressurized liquid hydrogen stream to form a fully pressurized liquid hydrogen stream at a pressure equal to or greater than about 4.0 bar(a);
• a target tank disposed downstream of the second cryogenic pump and configured to receive the fully pressurized liquid hydrogen stream;
• a recycle circuit having a first conduit configured to direct a saturated vapor hydrogen stream from a headspace or overhead of the target tank to the heat exchanger as the recycled gaseous hydrogen stream and a second conduit connecting the heat exchanger with the holding tank;
• wherein the heat exchanger is further configured to cool the recycled gaseous hydrogen stream to a subcooled liquid hydrogen recycle stream;
• an expansion valve disposed within the recycle circuit and configured to expand the subcooled liquid hydrogen recycle stream to form a dual phase hydrogen recycle stream at a pressure roughly equal to or slightly higher than the pressure of the liquid hydrogen in the holding tank;
• and
• wherein the second conduit of the recycle circuit is further configured to direct the dual phase hydrogen recycle stream to the holding tank.